Building business with reliable truck solutions

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy continues to expand, bolstered by ongoing infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build initiative.

Elevated highways, subway systems, and rail networks are being built, and new residential and commercial establishments will rise along these paths. To build these real estate developments, reliable heavy machinery such as heavy- and light-duty trucks are needed to deliver construction materials on site, keeping the construction smooth until its completion.

Given the several infrastructure developments in Metro Manila and across the country, the demand for trucks is at an all-time high.

With several local companies selling various brands and makes of trucks — both brand-new and reconditioned — which brand can prospective buyers rely on and who can they trust to supply them with such trucks?

For Autokid Truck Solutions CEO Kevin McHale Yao, prospective buyers should opt for cheaper Chinese trucks that offer the same quality and reliability as Japanese and European truck brands. His company has been in the business of selling Japanese and Chinese trucks since 2011 and is currently the fastest-growing truck seller in the country with 12 branches offering both brand-new and reconditioned trucks as well as parts and service.

“The price of Chinese trucks is a perfect match for Filipinos consumers. Their trucks are currently 50-percent cheaper than European truck brands and 30-percent cheaper than Japanese brands. It’s really very affordable,” Yao said.

Autokid has several brands such as Foton and Sinotruk in its lineup. By the middle of the year, the company will also launch another brand, Dongfeng, to the local market, giving consumers a wider range of truck solutions.

“Dongfeng Motor Group is the second-largest automaker and the No. 1 commercial truck manufacturer in China. Despite its standing, the brand is hardly visible in the market, which is why we decided to bring the brand to the country,” Yao explains.

Contrary to misconceptions that Chinese-made trucks are of poor quality, Yao defends that it’s not the case at all.

“Most Chinese truck brands already use European technology in developing their trucks. Sinotruck has partnered with German truck maker MAN, while Foton has a joint venture with Daimler. For Dongfeng, they already make use of technology from Volvo because of their partnership, so their trucks are already at par with European standards of quality,” Yao said.

The quality craftsmanship behind Dongfeng trucks can be found not just in Yao’s statements, but also in the details. Lighter Euro IV Cummins engines provide higher power and torque to Dongfeng trucks, compared to other trucks in the same weight class. With a lighter engine, it can deliver more power, especially in tough environments, for a fraction of the fuel consumption. Its exterior and interiors have modern design and features, including air conditioning, power windows, soundproofing, multiple side mirrors to minimize blind spots, daylight LED headlights and a multifunctional steering wheel.

While specifications are important in choosing a truck for businesses, there are other matters to consider such as after-sales. Prospective buyers want not just a brand-new truck; they also want a truck that can be easily serviced if the need arises. The lack of access to decent truck parts is a common headache among truck owners — a problem that could cost them continuity of business operations.

Autokid solves this problem by being one of only a few truck dealers in the country that offer reliable after-sales services. Every Autokid dealership has its own parts provider, dubbed Truckstop, which offers truck parts, maintenance and repair services. Autokid employs TESDA-certified personnel that provide professional services that are at par with international standards.

“Availability of parts has always been a problem within the market. Autokid Truck Solutions invests in the right parts so that when customers come to us, we can quickly provide them with the parts they need. We want parts and services to be more accessible to consumers, even if they didn’t buy the truck from us,” Yao said.

Moreover, Yao says his company wants to relieve companies of the headache of having to bring their truck to a service center for repairs. For this purpose, Autokid has a 24-hour, quick-response team who will go to the nearest truck in need of service with just a phone call. If a truck needs to be brought to Autokid’s service center, the company also offers towing services with fair pricing. The company also has a strong partnership with Pilipinas Shell to provide high-quality lubricants for the trucks being serviced.

Normally, buying a brand-new or reconditioned truck involves having to go to the dealership to see and inspect the unit yourself. This consumes time that is better spent in ensuring your business runs smoothly.

Autokid’s user-friendly website and mobile app make the search for the right truck a breeze. They serve as online marketplaces for all types of trucks. Thanks to the company’s thorough inventory process, users can look up through the website or app every truck that Autokid has on stock. It displays the brand, model, engine number, year, condition, price and the branch where the truck is in stock in real time. Users can easily modify the search parameters to suit your budget, preferred brand and condition.

“I think we’re the only truck dealer to offer this kind of innovation to customers. It makes buying trucks more convenient, especially for people who want to check the specifications first before making the purchase. Our sales agents can also use the app to easily monitor which trucks are in stock so they can quickly make the sale,” Yao says while demonstrating the mobile application’s features.

Finding a reliable truck that would help build one’s business is a huge challenge. But with a dependable and innovative partner like Autokid Truck Solutions, anyone can easily surmount the challenge so they can focus on building their business even more.